Re: What databases have taught me

As some are pointing out now, OOP designs to not have to be
hierarchical. However, outside of hierarchies, OO tends to lose its
selling point. It is just a bunch of nodes (objects) with pointers to
link them up, a big graph. Relational offers the chance to bring
discipline to relationships. It may not be perfect, but better than
dealing with raw graphs.

Further, there is still plenty of room for the Big-Iron view of RDBMS
to change, adapt, and branch out. We have jillions of OOP and
procedural languages, but only one production relational language (SQL)
with any decent backing, for example. It is time for a relational
renaissance.

Perhaps it won't fully deliver on its promises either, but billions of
$ chased other fads and overdid them for the heck of it. What is one
more? There may not be any other path to betterment besides
experimentation.